Safety descent apparatus

ABSTRACT

A harness is detachably supported inside a coat, and can be detachably fastened loosely around the wearer&#39;&#39;s waist and buttocks, so that the wearer can move around when the apparatus is not in use. A hook at one end of a rope is anchored around any substantial object, and the hook snapped onto the rope. The loose end of the rope is then thrown out of a window. The user wraps the rope three or four times around a hook on the harness and lets himself out of the window, supported by the anchored rope. To stop, the rope is pulled. To descend, the rope is fed up.

United States Patent 11 1 Arancio 1 SAFETY DESCENT APPARATUS [76] Inventor: James A. Arancio, Bayside, New

York, N.Y. 11361 22 Filed: Aug. 11, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 62,981

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 830,003, June 3,

1969, abandoned.

11 3,738,449 June 12, 1973 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Att0rney-J. B. Felshin [57] ABSTRACT A harness is detachably supported inside a coat, and can be detachably fastened loosely around the wearers waist and buttocks, so that the wearer can move around when the apparatus is not in use. A hook at one end of a rope is anchored around any substantial object, and the hook snapped onto the rope. The loose end of the rope is then thrown out of a window. The user wraps the rope three or four times around a hook on the harness and lets himself out of the window, supported by the anchored rope. To stop, the rope is pulled. To descend, the rope is fed up.

17 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 3 738.449

sum 1 or 4 INHIN I111. JAMES A. ARANCIO 2.43 ,{Qiw

PATENTED 21973 3.738.449

sum 2 or 4 INVICN'I'Hh. JAMES A. ARANCIO ATHER- 3. 738.449

sum 3 OF 4 1N VENTOR. mass ,4. 424000 ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to safety descent apparatus for use by firemen, or for rescue, escape or searching operations. One use of this apparatus is to go to one floor below if a fireman or others are trapped on a burning floor of a building. The fireman can descend while holding one person to bring him down.

2. Description of the Prior Art Descent devices are known which comprise an anchored flexible line or rope operatively controlling a harness in descent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide safety apparatus of the character described in which no knots are required and in which a hook on a line is secured to a substantial object, or the line is looped around an anchoring object and the hook snapped onto the line, and the line is then wrapped several times around a hook on a harness that a fireman or rescuer is wearing, so that the wearer can descend while his weight is supported by the anchored line. The wearer pulls the free end of the line to stop and feeds the line upwardly in short increments, to allow descent. The wearer can move around and work while the harness is not being used for descent purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which the harness is detachably attached inside of the firemans coat, and comprises a dangling hook which can readily be moved to the outside of the coat so that the line or rope can be readily wrapped therearound for descent purposes. This apparatus can be used with or without the coat. The coat is a holder for the harness to keep it ready for use but yet, is concealed. The weight of the harness is quite small. When using the apparatus for descent, the weight of the body of the wearer is on the harness, and not on the coat. The line or rope can be folded compactly into a plastic film bag which can be conveniently kept in a pocket of the coat. When it is desired to use the rope, the package is taken out of the pocket, the plastic bag ripped open, and the rope taken out for use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide highly improved apparatus of the character described comprising a harness which has an adjustable waist belt or strap, and an adjustable leg belt or strap encircling the legs of the wearer at the buttocks, and which belt becomes a seat for the fireman while he descends. These straps or belts are loose on the body of the wearer, so as not to hinder movement when the apparatus is not being used for descent. These straps or belts are adjusted to the wearer, and once adjusted properly, not too tightly, the wearer can work freely without being hindered by the harness.

A further object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and safe apparatus of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, comfortable to wear when not in use, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree.

Often the need for a rope is called for at a fire and it is necessary to send back to the apparatus for it. Too many times the rope is obtained too late to be effective and for this reason other implements or methods are devised to substitute for it. With this in mind a light compact unit to be carried by all hands and ready for immediate use has been designed. It has been designed to eliminate time consuming knots. The following outline illustrates just a few of its many uses.

3. For Escape purposes.

4. Rescue 7. To secure personnel while perfonning hazardous assignment.

1. As a Safety Belt.

a. For members riding apparatus Engine and Truck 2. As Ladder Belt.

a. During ladder operations member may secure himself to ladder rung.

3. For Escape Purposes.

a. Members trapped by fire with no other accessible means of egress, usesapparatus to descent to floor below fire, single slide.

4. Rescue.

a. For quick removal of persons trapped by fire or other hazardous situations.

b. Eliminates time consuming bowline on the bight. 5. As a Guide line.

a. When smoke and debris make visibility impossible.

b. To signal back to member behind you.

0. Unusual layouts.

6. For Hauling and Lifting.

a. Line can be used to haul equipment to upper floors.

7. To Secure Personnel While Performing Hazardous Assignments.

a. Sawing operations on roof.

b. Overhauling near open shafts.

The harness is attached (detachable) inside of the fire fighters turnout coat and is comprised of a ladder hook which can be readily moved to the outside of the coat so that the required 3 or 4 turns can easily be taken for descent pruposes. The harness can be used with or without the coat. The coat is a holder for the harness to keep it ready for use but yet is concealed. The weight of the harness is approximately 2 pounds. When using the harness for descent, the stress is on the harness only, never on the coat.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described,.and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing apparatus embodying the invention, being used by a fireman for descent purposes;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a coat opened up to reveal the harness attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the harness without the coat, on a wea-rers body in descent;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the line or rope with safety snap hook, in a package;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a firemans descent on a modified apparatus;

FIG. 8 is an inside view of a firemans turnout coat with a harness embodying said modified form of the invention, mounted thereon;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the harness of FIG. 8, on a body but without the coat;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 1l1l of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l212 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the lower end of the suspension line of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the suspension line of FIG. 7, packaged.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawing, 10 designates apparatus embodying the invention, shown in use by a fireman 11 for purposes of descent in FIG. 1 from a window 12.

The apparatus 10 comprises generally of a coat 14, a harness 15 detachabiy or removably mounted thereon, and an anchoring line or rope l6.

, The coat 14 may be a usual firemans coat or any coat having a body portion 20, and arms 21, arm holes 21a and being split down the front forming side edges .22. The coat 14 is modified only to the extent that it is provided with male snap fasteners 25 along its centerline, at the inside of its back below the arm holes 21a, and also at the sides in inwardly spaced relation to the edges 22, all at about the same level. Three substantially similar loops are detachably attached to three snap fasteners 25 respectively, on the coat, one being a center loop 26, one a side loop 27 and another a side loop 28. The center loop 26 comprises a strip of cloth or other suitable material folded lengthwise in half (See FIG. 5), and attached together by interengaging snap fasteners 30, mediately theends thereof, and attached together at the ends thereof by a female snap fastener 31 which can snap onto the male snap fastener 25. Loops 27, 28 are similarly attached together and similarly detachably attached to male fasteners 25 adjacent edges 22 of the coat. These loops can be snapped into or out of the coat. They are located inside the coat.

The harness 15 comprises a waist belt or strap 35, looped at one end as at 36. The looped end is stitched back in place, as by stitching 37. The loop 36 passes through an eye 40 of a connector member such as a safety snap book 41, which may be like the safety snap hook shown in Fig. No. 3387 of North and Judd Manufactoring Company general hardware catalog No. 262 (New Britain Conn., 06050). I

This safety snap hook comprises a hook 42 fixed to the eye 40, with a torsion spring pressed pawl 43 pivoted thereto as at 44 and engaging inside the tip of the book. The loop 28 also passes through eye 40 as shown in FIG. 3. Other snap hooks may be employed.

Stitched to the inside of belt 35, short of its outer end, as at 44, is a strip loop 45. Loop 45 engages around the second strap 46 of buckle 47 which may be like the Tablet buckle shown in Fig. 01 136 of page 39 of said North and Judd catalog No. 262. Said buckle has a first strap 48, a third strap 49 and a fourth strap 50 in addition to said second strap 46. The straps 48 and 50 are outside straps. The portion 35a of belt 35 passes through loop 27, then through a swivel loop 52 of a connector member such as a loose swivel safety snap hook 53 which may be like the one shown on page 40 of the Star Brand Tackle Blocks and Fittings for Heavy Hardware, Public Utility and Marine Catalog No. 115 of Boston and Lockport Block Company, Inc. Of 100 Condor Street, East Boston, Massachusetts 02l28, listed under N0. 4185 G. In this snap hook 53, the loop 52 is swivelled on a hook 54 provided with a spring pressed snap pawl 55. The strap end 35a, after passing through swivel loop 52, again passes through loop 27 (FIG. 4) and around strap 49 of buckle 47, then again through loop 27. It will now be understood that the length of belt 35 can be adjusted to fit the wearer.

It will be understood that the hook member 53 may be engaged with or snapped onto any anchoring means such as a ring on a strap looped onto a rung of a ladder or to any other object to serve as a safety measure to hold the wearer securely while hands are free to operate any apparatus.

The harness 15 further comprises a leg belt 60. One end of belt 60 is like the adjustable end 35a of belt 35. It has a loop, like loop 45, attached thereto and similarly looped around a strap of a buckle, like buckle 47. It also has one end passing through loop 27, through said swivel loop 52 of safety snap 53, then back through said loop 27, then around a strap of the buckle, and back through said loop 27. The belt 60 passes around the legs of the wearer loosely so that the leg strap can be pulled below the buttocks to permit the wearer to sit thereon when suspended, as explained hereinafter. At the other end of belt 60 is a loop 62 passing through eye 40 of safety snap hook 41.

When the coat is worn and buckled or closed at the front, the swivel hook 53 hangs down at the middle near the front split in the coat. The harness hangs from the coat. Its weight is only a few pounds It is loose enough on the body of the wearer so as not to hinder movement or the work being done by the fireman. The weight of the harness being small does not impede the wearers work. When the harness is not being used for purpose of descent, it just stays in the coat but is always ready for use.

The suspension line 16 may comprise a rope or other flexible element 70,.to one end of which is attached a safety snap hook 71 which may be like the hook 41 as shown in FIG. 3, or like hook 53 as shown in FIG. 6, to be explained hereinafter. The rope may be made of nylon, inch in diameter and spliced to the safety snap hook, or it may be of any other suitable material and of suitable tensile stringth, length and diameter. Any suitable flexible line or cordwill do.

The rope may be compactly folded into a clear plastic film bag 75 (FIG. 6), which may be carried in a pocket of the coat.

The suspension line thus consists of a length of nylon line, to which a forged steel safety snap is spliced to one end and a loop eye spliced to the other .end.- It is specially folded for quick use and is packaged in a plastic bag. Features such as compactness, lightness in weight and great strength factor make this unit practical in many aspects of fire fighting. It has been especially designed to work in conjunction with the harness. The main function of the safety snap is to eliminate time consuming knots.

To use the apparatus for descent, the bag 75 is ripped open, the hook of the line 16 is passed around any suitable, substantial, fixed object such as a riser 76, and the hook is then snapped onto the rope. The hook 53 is then pulled out from the coat, and the rope is wrapped several times (3 or 4 times) around the hook 54 as shown in FIG. 3. The fireman lets himself out of the window holding the loose end of the rope in one hand, as shown in FIG. 1, and the taut part of the rope is held with his other hand. To stop, the user pulls the free end of the rope. To descend, the user feeds the rope up toward the hook 54.

The rope should be strong enough to permit the fireman to carry a person being rescued.

In a majority of cases, where a fireman or others are trapped in a burning floor, it is only necessary to descend one floor. Hence rope lengths of 30 feet to 50 feet are usually sufficient.

This apparatus can be used for rescue operations other than those which occur in fires.

The harness may be used without the coat and is detachable from the coat. No knots are required. The harness is adjustable for various sized users. The rope can be of any desired length.

In FIGS. 6 to 14, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention. The apparatus or device of FIGS. 6 to 14 comprise a harness 100, a firemans turnout coat 101 and a suspension line 102.

The suspension line may be wound as shown in FIG. 6, and packaged in a clear plastic bag 103 with its neck constricted and tied by a string 104, all as shown in FIG. 14. At one end of the suspension line is a snap lock hook 105. The other end of the line may be folded back and spliced on at 106, to form a stop and a loop 107. A metal plate 108 has a hole for the rope to go through. The plate .108 can contact stop 106. Thus, if a fireman is sliding down line or rope 102, he wont slide off, since the plate 108 prevents'sliding off. To anchor the line, the upper end of the rope or line is wrapped about a pipe or any other fixed object, andthe snap hook 105 engaged with the rope.

The harness 100 comprises a waist belt 111 and a leg belt 112. These may be made of canvas or leather or of any other suitable flexible material. One end 111a of belt 111 is folded back onto itself as shown in FIG. 11, and stitched to the belt as at 115, to provide an end loop or eye 118, and a front loop or eye 119. The loop or eye 119 is narrowed, as shown in FIG. 9. The adjacent end 112a of belt 112 is inclined upwardly and interposed between belt 111 and bent back' portion 111a of said belt, and stitched thereto by lines of stitching 116. A strap 120 has its lower end interposed between belt ends 112a and 111a and stitched thereto as by stitching 121. At the upper end of strap 120 is a female snap fastener member 123 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

For engagement with the suspension line 102 there is provided a hook member 125 which comprises an eye 126 through which the eye or loop 119 passes. Member 125 further comprises a hook 127 integral with the eye 126, and a spring pressed snap lock or latch 128 pivoted to the neck of the hook, for closing the hook. As shown in FIG. 9, the suspension line may be wrapped about hook 127. The rope is paid out to allow descent and pulled down, below the hook, to brake the descent.

A first buckle 130 has an end transverse strap 131 passing through eye or loop 118, an end loop 132 and an intermediate cross-strap 133. 7

Means is provided to interconnect the opposite ends of belts 111, 112 to each other; to allow selective adjustment of the lengths of said belts; and to detachably connect said interconnected opposite ends of said belts to said buckle 130. To this end there is provided a second buckle having at one end a hook 141 provided with a spring pressed snap lock or latch to close the hook. Extending from hook 141 is a buckle portion 142 comprising parallel end portions 143, 144 interconnected by parallel side portions 145. An intermediate, transverse slider pin or rung 146 has its ends befurcated and slidably engaging side portions of the second buckle. An opposite end 11lb of the waist belt 111 is wrapped around slider pin and folded back at 111c against the outside of said belt. The length of belt 111 maybe individually adjusted. After adjustment, the folded back portion may be fixed in place against flapping and to maintain the adjustment, by a removable snap fastener 148. A second strap 150 may be looped about belt 111 and/its folded back portion 1110, to be disposed close to the second buckle 140. After adjustment of the length of belt 111, strap 150 may be fixed to said belt by a detachable snap fastener or rivet 151. Strap 150 has a female snap fastener member 152 at its upper end for the purpose hereinafter described.

There is further provided a third buckle 153 which has two end cross straps 154, 155 interconnected to a pair of parallel side portions 156. Straps 144 and 155 of buckle 140, 153 are interconnected by a flexible strap 157. On side portions 156 is slidably mounted a cross-pin 159.

The opposite end 112b of leg belt 112 is wrapped around pin 159 and folded back at 160 against the outside of said belt. The length of belt 112 may be adjusted. After adjustment, belt end 160 may be detachably fastened to the main body of the belt by a snap fastener or rivet 161.

The harness may be detachably supported inside the firemans turnout coat 101, similar to coat 14 of FIG. 2, at waist height. This is accomplished by means of straps 120 and 150. The female fastener members on said straps are snapped onto complementary snap fastener members attached to the coat adjacent the split front edges of the coat and located at the inside of the coat, at waist height.

A third strap 172 carries a female snap fastener member 173 which may be snap fastened to a male snap fastener member 174 riveted to the coat at the middle of the back at waist height. Snap fastener member 174 is similar to the male snap fasteners attached to the coat near the split edges 170 for engagement with the snap fastener members 123, 152 on straps 120, 150, and are similarly riveted to the coat.

Strap 172 has a loop 172a slidably receiving belt 1 1 1.

The hook member 125 may be removably strapped to the inside of coat 101 by a strap having snap fasteners member 181 adopted to snap onto complementary snap fasteners on the coat. Strap 180 is used when the harness is worn but not being used, in order to keep the hook member from swinging around. Strap 180 can easily have one end detached to allow the hook to pass out between the split edges 170 of the coat, for engagement with the suspension line.

it will thus be seen that there is provided an article in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative only.

I claim:

1. In a human body lowering device, a body harness comprising a flexible waist belt, a flexible leg belt, each of said belts having a first end and a second end, means to interconnect said pair of first ends of said belts, means to interconnect said pair of second ends of said belts, means to detachably connect said interconnected pair of first ends of said belts to the interconnected pair of second ends of said belts at the front of the body with the waist belt encircling the body at the waist and the leg belt encircling around and beneath both legs of the body, beneath the buttocks, and means to selectively adjust the length of each belt, said means to interconnect the first ends of said belts comprising stitching attaching said first ends to-each other, said means to detachably connect said first ends of said belts to the second ends of said belts, comprising a first buckle, a first loop at said stitched together first ends of said belts engaging around an element of said first buckle, a second buckle, the second end of one of said belts adjustably passing around an element of the second buckle, a third buckle, the second end of the other of said belts adjustably passing around an element of said third buckle, and means to interconnect said second and third buckles.

2. The combination of claim 1, and means to attach the second ends of said belts to their respective belts after adjustment of the lengths of said belts.

3. The combination of claim 1, said means to detachably connect the interconnected first ends of said belts to the interconnected second ends of said belts comprising said first and second buckles one of said first and second buckles having a snap lock hook to engage an element of the other of said first and second buckles.

4. The combination of claim 3, a second loop atsaid stitched together first ends of said belts, and means engaging through said second loop, to engage a suspension line wrapped therearound for sliding said body down said line.

5. The combination of claim 4, said last means comprising a hook provided with a snap lock.

6. The combination of claim 5, a coat open at the front and having front split edges, and means to detachably attach said harness to the middle of the inside of the back of the coat and to the inside of the back of the coat adjacent said front split edges.

7. The combination of claim 7, said attachment of said harness to the back of said coat and adjacent said front split edges, being substantially at the same level.

8. In a human body lowering device, a body harness comprising a flexible waist belt, a flexible leg belt, each of said belts having a first end and a second end, means to interconnect said pair of first ends of said belts, means to interconnect said pair of second ends of said belts, means to detachably connect said interconnected pair of first ends of said belts to the interconnected pair of second ends of said belts at the front of the body, and means to selectively adjust the length of each belt, said means to detachably connect said pair interconnected first ends of said belts to the pair of interconnected second ends of said belts comprising a first hook member connected to one of said pair of interconnected ends, means on the other of said pair of interconnected ends hookingly engageable by said hook member, and a second hook member mounted on one of said first pairs of interconnected ends of said belts, and being movable relative to said hookingly engageable means, said second hook member to slidably engage a suspension line wound therearound for sliding the body down such line, said second hook member being located at the front of the body when said first pair of interconnected belt ends are connected to said second pair of interconnected belt ends.

9. The combination of claim 8, one pair of adjacent ends of said belts being separate one from the other and movably connected one relative to the other.

10. The combination of claim 8', in combination with said suspension line wound around and slidably contacting said second hook member in a manner allowing paying out the line as the body lowers.

11. The combination of claim 8, and means to detachably hold' said second hook member to'the inside of said coat.

12. The combination of claim 8, said suspension line comprising a flexible elongated element, and a snap hook at one end of said element.

13. The combination of claim 12, a stop at the other end of said element, and a plate having a hole therein, through which said element passes, and said plate being located adjacent said to stop.

14. The combination of claim 8, a coat open at the front and having front split edges, means to detachably attach the harness to the inside of the back of the coat and to the inside of the coat adjacent said split edges.

15. The combination of claim 14, said means to detachably attach said harness to said coat comprising a plurality of loop members connected to said harness, and means to quickly detachably attach said loop members to said coat.

16. The combination of claim 15, one of said loop members comprising a loop slidable on an intermediate portion of said waist belt.

17. The combination of claim 16, and other of said loop members being located at the interconnected first and second ends of said belt. 

1. In a human body lowering device, a body harness comprising a flexible waist belt, a flexible leg belt, each of said belts having a first end and a second end, means to interconnect said pair of first ends of said belts, means to interconnect said pair of second ends of said belts, means to detachably connect said interconnected pair of first ends of said belts to the interconnected pair of second ends of said belts at the front of the body with the waist belt encircling the body at the waist and the leg belt encircling around and beneath both legs of the body, beneath the buttocks, and means to selectively adjust the length of each belt, said means to interconnect the first ends of said belts comprising stitching attaching said first ends to each other, said means to detachably connect said first ends of said belts to the second ends of said belts, comprising a first buckle, a first loop at said stitched together first ends of said belts engaging around an element of said first buckle, a second buckle, the second end of one of said belts adjustably passing around an element of the second buckle, a third buckle, the second end of the other of said belts adjustably passing around an element of said third buckle, and means to interconnect said second and third buckles.
 2. The combination of claim 1, and means to attach the second ends of said belts to their respective belts after adjustment of the lengths of said belts.
 3. The combination of claim 1, said means to detachably connect the interconnected first ends of said belts to the interconnected second ends of said belts comprising said first and second buckles one of said first and second buckles having a snap lock hook to engage an element of the other of said first and second buckles.
 4. The combination of claim 3, a second loop at said stitched together first ends of said belts, and means engaging through said second loop, to engage a suspension line wrapped therearound for sliding said body down said line.
 5. The combination of claim 4, said last means comprising a hook provided with a snap lock.
 6. The combination of claim 5, a coat open at the front and having front split edges, and means to detachably attach said harness to the middle of the inside of the back of the coat and to the inside of the back of the coat adjacent said front split edges.
 7. The combination of claim 7, said attachment of said harness to the back of said coat and adjacent said front split edges, being substantially at the same level.
 8. In a human body lowering device, a body harness comprising a flexible waist belt, a flexible leg belt, each of said belts having a first end and a second end, means to interconnect said pair of first ends of said belts, means to interconnect said pair of second ends of said belts, means to detachably connect said interconnected pair of first ends of said belts to the interconnected pair of second ends of said belts at the front of the body, and means to selectively adjust the length of each belt, said means to detachably connect said pair interconnected first ends of said belts to the pair of interconnected second ends of said belts comprising a first hook member connected to one of said pair of interconnected ends, means on the other of said pair of interconnected ends hookingly engageable by said hook member, and a second hook member mounted on one of said first pairs of interconnected ends of said belts, and being movable relative to said hookingly engageable means, said second hook member to slidably engage a suspension line wound therearound for sliding the body down such line, said second hook member being located at the front of the body when said first pair of interconnected belt ends are connected to said second pair of interconnected belt ends.
 9. The combination of claim 8, one pair of adjacent ends of said belts being separate one from the other and movably connected one relative to the other.
 10. The combination of claim 8, in combination with said suspension line wound around and slidably contacting said second hook member in a manner allowing paying out the line as the body lowers.
 11. The combination of claim 8, and means to detachably hold said second hook member to the inside of said coat.
 12. The combination of claim 8, said suspension line comprising a flexible elongated element, and a snap hook at one end of said element.
 13. The combination of claim 12, a stop at the other end of said element, and a plate having a hole therein, through which said element passes, and said plate being located adjacent said to stop.
 14. The combination of claim 8, a coat open at the front and having front split edges, means to detachably attach the harness to the inside of the back of the coat and to the inside of the coat adjacent said split edges.
 15. The combination of claim 14, said means to detachably attach said harness to said coat comprising a plurality of loop members connected to said harness, and means to quickly detachably attach said loop members to said coat.
 16. The combination of claim 15, one of said loop members comprising a loop slidable on an intermediate portion of said waist belt.
 17. The combination of claim 16, and other of said loop members being located at the interconnected first and second ends of said belt. 